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Governance - General
21 Jun 2023
Exploring governance – Part 1 What is the role of a NED?
By David Levenson
As governance codes have developed, the role played by non-executive directors (NEDs) on boards has become more prominent and exposed. In his series reflecting on how to create a high-performing board, executive coach David Levenson outlines the responsibilities of NEDs.
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Imagine walking up to a front door and peering through the peephole into somebody else’s house. How would you know what it looks like inside? Being a non-executive director is like squinting through the peephole to someone else’s house.
Like houses, enterprises come in all shapes and sizes – large global listed companies, new wave start-ups, charities and social enterprises – the list is endless. Except for very small businesses, these enterprises will usually have at least one NED and, in some cases, NEDs will comprise a majority or even the whole board.